Student murdered very close to where I live UPDATE-- suspect to enter Not Guilty plea

If you live in the Chicago area you might have seen this on the news. This happened about 2 miles from where I live. They think the girl came home from school and surprised a burglar. Over the past several months there have been a number of robberies in this part of our village because it is single family homes, heavily wooded yards, and backs up to the tollway, making for a quick getaway. But IHP is kind of like "Mayberry" in that tragedies like this don't happen in our village. Just very sad. If you would please say a prayer or think a good thought for this family.

"That's the power of kittens (and puppies too, of course): They can reduce us to quivering masses of Jell-O in about two seconds flat and make us like it. Good thing they don't have opposable thumbs or they'd surely have taken over the world by now." -- Paul Lukas

Gosh! That's sad! Prayers for the family, sorry to hear they had to go through so much pain and sadness.. Hopefully the criminal will be caught and punished severely! The video brought tears in my eyes..

$20,000 has been raised as reward money. It's been on the news that collectible coins were also taken from the home, so pawn shops and coin collectors should be on alert. I 'm afraid the coins have already been pawned or sold far away from here.

I've been Boo'd... right off the stage!

Aaahh, I have been defrosted! Thank you, Bonny and Asiel!
Brrrr, I've been Frosted! Thank you, Asiel and Pomtzu!

"That's the power of kittens (and puppies too, of course): They can reduce us to quivering masses of Jell-O in about two seconds flat and make us like it. Good thing they don't have opposable thumbs or they'd surely have taken over the world by now." -- Paul Lukas

"That's the power of kittens (and puppies too, of course): They can reduce us to quivering masses of Jell-O in about two seconds flat and make us like it. Good thing they don't have opposable thumbs or they'd surely have taken over the world by now." -- Paul Lukas

Kelli's funeral was held today. There are white ribbons around trees, bushes and sign posts all over town. Several local businesses changed their signs to things like "God Bless Kelli", "Hearts for Kelli", "Remembering Kelli". The kids even used styrofoam cups to spell out her name in the fence of the bike path bridge over the tollway. It's a good place to live, just your typical middle class community.

They also caught the suspect today and he was denied bail. Seems he took a cab from our neighborhood to the elevated train station near Midway Airport and tried to pay the fare with one of the collectible coins he took from the O'Laughlin home. He also took Kelli's cell phone and made taunting and harassing calls to her mother using her speed dial.

God bless Kelli Joy.

I've been Boo'd... right off the stage!

Aaahh, I have been defrosted! Thank you, Bonny and Asiel!
Brrrr, I've been Frosted! Thank you, Asiel and Pomtzu!

"That's the power of kittens (and puppies too, of course): They can reduce us to quivering masses of Jell-O in about two seconds flat and make us like it. Good thing they don't have opposable thumbs or they'd surely have taken over the world by now." -- Paul Lukas

"I always felt that when someone introduces you to the outdoors, you come to feel like you owe them something. ‘Cause what they really gave you is a lifetime of memories, and a lifestyle you’ll always love. Of course I suppose the best way to pay them back is to be that person for someone else. "

They also caught the suspect today and he was denied bail. Seems he took a cab from our neighborhood to the elevated train station near Midway Airport and tried to pay the fare with one of the collectible coins he took from the O'Laughlin home. He also took Kelli's cell phone and made taunting and harassing calls to her mother using her speed dial.

God bless Kelli Joy.

I'm relieved to know the suspect is now in custody without bail. Situations like this are hard enough on the family but it was made even worse by the unconsionable phone calls to her grieving mother. I pray Kellie's family finds peace. I also hope and pray that justice will be served.